Device for piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires

ABSTRACT

A device for the piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires in which there is provided a base mounting a batcher defined by a roller having a longitudinal groove. The wires carrying said cores strung in columns thereon are fixed to the base and threaded into the groove of the roller, with the roller being also embraced by an additional wire. In the points of its intersections with said longitudinal grooves, the additional wire and those portions of said longitudinal groove which are defined by adjacent points of intersection form sockets to receive said cores therein.

Burki'n et al.

[ Nov. 26, 1974 DEVICE FOR PIECE-BY-PIECE FEEDING AND LOCKING OF CORES STRUNG IN COLUMNS ON WIRES Inventors: Jury Alexandrovich Burkin,

Tsvetnoi proezd 29, kv. 24; Jury Emelyanovich Seleznev, Vesenny proezd, 4-a, kv. 16, both of Novosibirsk, U.S.S.R.

Filed: Sept. 18, 1973 Appl. No.: 398,556

US. Cl. 29/203 MM, 29/241 Int. Cl. H05k 13/04 Field of Search 29/203 MM, 203 MW, 604,

References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1973 Fagerstrom et al 29/203 MM Primary Examiner-ThomasH. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT A device for the piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires in which there is provided a base mounting a batcher defined by a roller having a longitudinal groove. The wires carrying said cores strung in columns thereon are fixed to the base and threaded into the groove of the roller, with the roller being also embraced by an additional wire. In the points of its intersections with said longitudinal grooves, the additional wire and those portions of said longitudinal groove which are defined by adjacent points of intersection form sockets to receive said cores therein.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR PIECE-BY-PIECE FEEDING AND LOCKING OF CORES STRUNG IN COLUMNS ON WIRES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the production equipment for the manufacture of ferrite memory stacks of computers, and more particularly to a device for the pieceby-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires.

The present invention may be used for the piece-bypiece feeding and locking of appropriately positioned cores of various sizes in a row-by-row sequence including superminiature cores, when sewing ferrite corestore matrixes, as well as when counting and checking the quality of cores.

To carry out the above-mentioned sewing, counting and checking operations, it is necessary at first to separate one corefrom each column, to feed said core to a predetermined location and to fix its position.

PRIOR ART Known in the art is a device for the piece-by-piece feeding of cores strung in columns on wires, e.g. a device for the manufacture of memory stacks.

The known device comprises a base with a number of wires fixed thereto and slightly tightened, with said wires carrying cores strung in columns thereon and being accommodated in a groove of a batcher disposed on the base. The batcher is formed as a roller having at least one longitudinal groove to catch the cores, with the depth of the groove being equal to one half of the difference between the outer and inner diameters of the cores, while the width of the groove is equal to the height of the cores.

This device is provided with a coil-forming mechanism attached to the base and disposed at an end-face side of the batcher. The coil-forming mechanism is constituted by a spindle positioned between two dies.

In the manufacture of a memory stack by means of the conventional apparatus the piece-by-piece feeding and fixing of cores are carried out as follows:

The batcher separates the cores one at a time from each column and when rotating, it arranges them the cores in a line. In this position, the cores are fixed and biased to the batcher by wires on which the cores are strung. In this case the cores are fixed most exactly in a plane which is normal to the direction of the wires, that is, in a so called fixation zone.

In the above position, a coiled wire is threaded through the cores, withsaid coiled wire being formed in a coil-forming mechanism with the pitch between adjacent coils being equal to the intervals between the cores which are arranged in a line at the batcher. The sewing or threading operation is performed by simultaneously rotating and feeding the coil. Then, the coil with the sewed cores is removed from the batcher by further rotation of the latter. A row of matrix is formed by straightening the coil.

To sew the next row, the process is repeated.

The above-disclosed device entails a number of disadvantages, one of which is that the cores which are arranged in a line, preparatory to sewing the cores by a wire made in a coil, are distributed with uneven intervals along the length ofthe batcher. This takes place because the cores are fed as through they roll along the longitudinal groove of the batcher taking one or other position because only one fulcrum is provided for each core on the bottom of this longitudinal groove.

Another disadvantage of the conventional device is that a profile groove of the batcher is subjected to clog ging. This clogging may cause the raising of the cores and the wires threaded therein in a direction outwardly of the groove, thereby leading to conditions when wires may leave the groove that are extremely undesirable. It is evident from the foregoing, that a shallow longitudinal groove would be subjected to rapid clogging, while a deep groove would not fix the cores properly. Furthermore, the downward movement of the cores is performed only by gravity which may lead to shearing.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvatages.

The main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind referred to above which performs its functions of separation, locking and discharging the cores in simpler and more reliable way.

The above and other objects are achieved in that, in a device for the piece-by-piece'feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires arranged in a row and fixed to a base, each of said wires is accommodated in a suitable groove of a batcher disposed on the base and defined by a roller having at least one longitudinal groove adapted to catch the cores, according to the invention, there is provided-an additional wire embracing the roller, with said additional wire, at the points of intersection thereof with respect to said longitudinal groove and those portions of said longitudinal groove which are defined by adjacent points of intersections, forming sockets to receive said cores therein.

It is expedient that this additional wire be formed into a coil.

It is also advantageous to use the additional wire embracing the roller in the form of separate rings.

It is preferable to provide the roller with an additional groove accommodating said additional wire embracing the roller.

It is advantageous when the additional groove and the groove accommodating the wires carrying cores strung in columns thereon are helical.

It is also expedient to provide the roller with as many grooves as are necessary to accommodate therein the wires with cores strung in columns thereon, with the number of additional grooves in the roller exceeding by one that of the first-mentioned grooves, with both the grooves for the wires with cores strung in columns thereon and the additional grooves being annular.

It is preferable to provide the roller with an inner cavity communicating with the longitudinal groove.

It is also preferable to provide means for tensioning the additional wire with said wire embracing both said means and the roller simultaneously.

The invention will now be explained with reference to specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for the pieceby-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires made in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section of a first roller for an apparatus with the wires having cores strung in columns thereon;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a second roller, according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa roller and additional wire tensioning means both being embraced by said wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS A device for piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires comprises a base 1 with a batcher fixed thereto, and the batcher being defined as a roller 2 which can be rotated by suitable driving means, such as a handle 3.

The roller 2 is provided with a longitudinal groove 4 adapted to catch cores 5, such as ferrite cores, strung in columns 6 on wires 7. To ensure a more reliable catching of the cores by the groove 4 during the separation of the cores from the columns 6, the width of the longitudinal groove should be slightly in excess of the height of the cores 5 to be separated. The longitudinal groove is to be deep taking into account the following considerations.

It is necessary that dust and ultimate particles entering into the longitudinal groove along with the cores 5 should be pushed by the cores 5 into the longitudinal groove 4 without disturbing the normal operation of the device. The depth of the longitudinal groove 4 should be in excess of one half of the difference between the outer and inner diameters of the core 5. This excess may be substantial.

In order to prevent the unduly dipping of the cores 5 into the deep longitudinal groove 4, the roller 2 is embraced by an additional wire 8 dividing the longitudinal groove 4 into equal portions.

This additional wire, at the points of intersection thereof with the longitudinal groove 4 and those portions of the longitudinal groove 4 which are defined between adjacent points of intersection, form together sockets to accommodate the cores 5 therein. The additional wire embraces the roller 2 in such a manner that the dimension of each portion of the longitudinal groove 4 is less than the outer diameter of the core 5.

The additional wireis threaded over the roller 2 in the form of a coil.

Thus, each pair of two adjacent coils of the additional wire at the points of intersection thereof with respect to the longitudinal slot 4 defines two fulcrums for the core 5 upon its enteringthe longitudinal groove 4. The core 5 is pressed against said fulcrums under the action of a slightly tensioned wire 7 which runs through the cores 5 and is accommodated in a helical groove 9. The coils of this groove 9 are equally spaced along the roller 2 and are intermediate regarding each pair of adjacent coils of the additional wire 8 threaded over the roller 2.

Alternatively, the additional wire embracing the roller 2 may take the form of separate rings. In this case,

it is also preferable to make annular grooves in the rol ler 2 adapted to accommodate the wires 7 therein, with the number of said grooves being equal to the number of the wires 7 attached to the base 1.

As it may be seen from the above-described structure, the desirable depth of dipping the core 5 into the longitudinal groove 4 may be exactly adjusted by varying the diameter of the additional wire threaded over the roller 2. In fact, if the diameter of the additional wire is less than the optimal one, then the core 5 will dip deeper into the groove 4 and in this case, upon discharging the core 5 from the batcher 6, it will take more time for the core to leave the groove 4, that is the efficiency of the device will be decreased. alternatively, if the diameter of the additional wire is more than the optimal one, this will have a detrimental effect on the conditions of the entering of the core into the longitudinal groove 4 at the moment of separation of the core 5 from the column 6. The above-described structure eliminates the necessity to use precision equipment, since by varying the diameter of the additional wire (particularly when handling microcores), the conditions for the entering of the core into the longitudinal groove 4 may be easily adjusted taking into account the fact that the diameter of the additional wire may be selected over a wide range.

The difference in the depth of dipping of the cores 5 may also take place when for one or another reason adjacent coils of the additional wire are moved apart and arranged at uneven intervals. This may take place in particular when a microwire is used for the additional wire; this type of a wire cannot be held under high tension when it is wound over the roller 2 and therefore cannot be properly fixed to the roller 2.

To eliminate the above disadvantages, it is preferable to provide the roller 2 (FIG. 2) with an additional helical groove 10 adapted to accommodate therein the additional wire, with said groove preventing the additional wire from shifting along the roller 2.

If the row of cores 5 inserted one at a time into the longitudinal groove 4 of the roller 2 comprises some thousand pieces of cores, then it is preferable to make the additional groove and the groove for the wires 7 in a helical path. In this case, the additional wire 7 with the cores 5 strung thereon will be distributed at even intervals, and therefore the cores 5 inserted into the longitudinal groove 4 will be evenly spaced along the roller 2. This feature is very valuable when manufacturing memory matrixes with a great storage capacity or when the sewing and checking of the cores 5 in the matrix are performed by means of a coiled wire with an exact pitch between the coils.

In accordance with another embodiment, the roller 2 may be provided with as many grooves as are necessary to accommodate therein the wires 7 with the cores 5 strung in columns on said wires, while the number of the additional grooves exceeds by one that of the firstmentioned grooves, with the grooves adapted to accommodate the wires 7 (FIG. 3) being in the form of separate annular grooves 11 and the additional grooves being formed as annular grooves 12. In this case, the additional wire takes the form of separate rings 13.

This embodiment is preferable in cases in which a small group of cores, i.e. from one to 10 pieces, is separated along the roller 2, because the greater amount of grooves will lead to an increase in errors of their relaerable to make the roller 2 (FIG. 2) hollow with a cavity 14 communicating with the longitudinal groove 4.

This cavity I4 is intended to prevent clogging of the longitudinal groove 4. It is desirable to connect said cavity to a vacuum pump during the separation of the cores 5 from the columns 6 and their entering into the longitudinal groove. In the first place, the vacuum removes dirt from the groove 4, and, in the second place, the cores fill the longitudinal groove more rapidly, thereby increasing the efficiency of the device as a whole. While discharging the cores from the batcher 2 it is advantageous to connect the inner cavity 14 of the roller 2 to a source of compressed air which aids in the more rapid discharging of the cores, thereby increasing the efficiency of the device.

It is advantageous to use the batcher along with means for tensioning the additional wire, and the tensioning means comprises a rubber roller 15 (FIG. 15) fixed to the base 1 in close to the batcher 2. Due to its resilient deformation, said roller 15 stretches the additional wire which embraces both the roller 2 and the rubber roller 15, with said wire being in the form of separate loops 16. If in all of the above-described embodiments the additional wire rotates along with the roller 2, then the provision of said means makes it possible to disengage the additional wire from the roller 2 which, during the rotation thereof while discharging the core 8 from the roller 2, results in an additional thrust arising from the additional wire thereby aiding in better discharging.

The present device for piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires operates in the following manner:

The wires 7 embracing the batcher and carrying the cores 6 strung in columns 6 thereon are fixedto the base 1 (FIG. 1) and under a curtain tension these wires 7 are threaded into the helical groove 9 in the roller 2.

The cores 5 are forced to each other under gravity and a column 6 is formed on each of the wires 7 with the lower core in each column being pressed against the batcher.

Under these conditions, the piece-by-piece feeding and locking of the cores 5 are initiated in order to sew the cores by a coiled wire 17 in a different direction.

To achieve this, the roller 2 is rotated by the handle 3 until the longitudinal groove 4 reaches the lower row of the cores 5 in columns 6 which results in that each socket of the longitudinal groove 4 receives one core 5. The batcher is then rotated to a position where each wire 7 embracing said batcher presses the core 5 against the two fulcrums defined by the socket, with said core 5 being in the socket. In other words, the cores 5 are definitely fixed in the longitudinal groove 4 of the roller 2.

Under this condition of the batcher, the cores 5 fixed to said batcher are threaded by the coiled wire 17.

Counting and checking of the quality of the cores may be also performed by means'of appropriate sensors.

After these operations have been completed, the cores 5 are discharged from the batcher. In this case, the roller 2 is rotated until the cores 5 slide downward over the wires 7 under combined gravity of the cores and the wire 17.

The operation of the devices made in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is no different from that above-described because the separation of the cores 5 from the columns 6 and the discharging of the cores 5 from the batcher are carried out in the same manner.

It is advantageous, particularly when handling tine cores 5, to use the batcher having the inner cavity 14 communication with the longitudinal groove 4.

Such an arrangement makes it possible, upon enter ing of the cores 5 into the longitudinal groove 4, to connect the inner cavity 14 to the vacuum pump. This action accelerates the separation of the cores from the column and aids in their entering into the longitudinal groove 4.

Upon discharging the cores 5 from the batcher. said cavity 14 is connected to a source of compressed air instead of the vacuum pump and said source instantly makes the longitudinal groove 4 of the roller 2 clear of the cores 5. The alternative connections of the batcher with pressure and vacuum improve considerably the operating characteristics of the device due to the quick separation, feeding and locking of the cores 5 before their checking and sewing and during or after discharging thereof from the batcher.

In all cases, it is advantageous to use the batcher in combination with means for tensioning the wire. When using these means, the additional wire induces an additional thrust acting on the cores 5 and aiding in pushing the cores out of the longitudinal groove 4 of the batcher. In other respects, the operation of the device is no different from that above-described.

The device made in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to improve the quality in operations for separating and locking the cores, as well as minimize damage thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for the piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires, comprising a base, said wires carrying said cores strung in said columns thereon being fixed to the base, a batcher mounted on said base, said batcher including a roller provided with at least one longitudinal groove adapted to hold said cores, and an annular groove to accommodate said wires with cores strung in columns thereon, an additional wire embracing said roller, with said additional wire at the points of intersection with respect to said longitudinal groove and those portions of said longitudinal groove which are defined by adjacent 'portions of intersection defining sockets to receive said cores therein.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said additional wire embracing the roller is a coiled wire.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said additional wire embracing said roller is defined by separate rings.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with an additional groove accommodating said additional wire.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said additional wire and said groove accommodating said wires with said cores strung in columns thereon are he- I lical grooves.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein said roller is provided with as are many grooves as necessary to accommodate therein said wires with said cores strung in columns on these wires, while the number of said longitudinal groove.

8. The device according to claim 1, further including means for tensioning said additional wire, with said wire embracing both said tensioning means and said roller. 

1. A device for the piece-by-piece feeding and locking of cores strung in columns on wires, comprising a base, said wires carrying said cores strung in said columns thereon being fixed to the base, a batcher mounted on said base, said batcher including a roller provided with at least one longitudinal groove adapted to hold said cores, and an annular groove to accommodate said wires with cores strung in columns thereon, an additional wire embracing said roller, with said additional wire at the points of intersection with respect to said longitudinal groove and those portions of said longitudinal groove which are defined by adjacent portions of intersection defining sockets to receive said cores therein.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said additional wire embracing the roller is a coiled wire.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said additional wire embracing said roller is deFined by separate rings.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with an additional groove accommodating said additional wire.
 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said additional wire and said groove accommodating said wires with said cores strung in columns thereon are helical grooves.
 6. The device according to claim 3, wherein said roller is provided with as are many grooves as necessary to accommodate therein said wires with said cores strung in columns on these wires, while the number of said additional grooves exceeds by one that of said first-mentioned grooves, with both grooves for additional wires and for wires with said cores strung in columns thereon being annular grooves.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with an inner cavity communicating with said longitudinal groove.
 8. The device according to claim 1, further including means for tensioning said additional wire, with said wire embracing both said tensioning means and said roller. 